After the chaos of the holiday season dies down, you might find yourself searching for ways to fill your time now that you don’t have to worry about buying gifts, preparing elaborate meals, and traveling to see all your friends and family for the holidays. Why not spend some time deep cleaning your home so that when spring rolls around, you can enjoy it without worrying about spring cleaning? Tackling these four home cleaning projects will have your home sparkling like new and will help keep you and your family happy and healthy all winter long.

Carpet Cleaning

Getting your carpets professionally cleaned is one of the best ways to remove allergens and bacteria from your home. Carpets work together with all the other soft surfaces in your home – like rugs and upholstery – to filter contaminants out of the air we breathe every day. If they’re not cleaned on a regular basis, their fibers will become overly-full of dirt and dust and won’t be able to filter your home’s air any longer. Getting your carpets cleaned by a professional carpet cleaner in Manhattan Beach is the perfect way to keep your home healthy and looking its best this winter. Curtice Chem-Dry is a highly regarded carpet cleaner in Manhattan Beach that offers long-lasting, fast-drying cleaning services for your carpets, rugs, upholstery, and more. Their carpet cleaning process is designed to remove bacteria, allergens, dirt, and dust from deep within your carpet fibers while still drying in just two hours or less. You don’t have to be inconvenienced for days on end to get quality carpet cleaning.

Deep Clean Your Bathrooms

It’s no secret that bathrooms are havens for bacteria and germs. Spending a couple of hours deep cleaning all the bathrooms in your house will dramatically improve the overall cleanliness of your home, and your bathrooms will look bright and beautiful as a result. While it might not be the most pleasant task, luckily you can use common household cleaning products, like bleach, to clean most things in your bathroom. You can even go the extra mile and call in a professional tile and grout cleaner to get your tile floors deeply clean.

Get Rid of Clutter

We know that it can be hard to let things go but getting rid of useless clutter in your home will make the entire space look and feel bigger and airier. You might not realize how much the clutter in your home is bothering you until you see how peaceful you feel once it’s gone. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used it in three to six months, you should get rid of it. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, but try to stick to it as strictly as possible, so you don’t fall into the trap of talking yourself out of giving things away. Find a local charity to drop off your donation at, so you can feel even better about decluttering your home.

Focus on the Kitchen

After you’re done with all your holiday cooking, you may find that your kitchen is looking messier than ever. Take advantage of the post-holiday calm and spend an afternoon deep cleaning your kitchen. Start by de-greasing your oven and disinfecting your counters. Then, clean out your pantry and refrigerator and throw out all expired food. Finish up by giving your kitchen floors a good scrubbing and making sure the sink is clean and the drain is unclogged.

Our pets mean so much to us. They’re beloved members of our families, our protectors, and our best friends. You probably do everything you can to make sure your pet has a healthy, happy, long life, but have you thought about what you’re feeding them? Many common pet foods are full of ingredients that aren’t healthy for our pets and can have serious adverse effects on their overall health and happiness.

You might be worried that switching to organic and natural pet food means you’ll have to spend a fortune on food every month. While organic food is typically a little more expensive, it’s actually been shown that pets eat less organic pet food because it’s so nutrient dense that they need less food to feel full and satisfied. There are so many benefits to switching to natural and organic pet food that it’s well worth the extra cost. Of course, you should always consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns about switching your pet’s food. They’ll be able to guide you to the best products for your pet.

Managing Your Pet’s Weight

Natural, organic pet food is made of hearty, natural ingredients that are specially chosen to be easy to digest and rich in all the nutrients your pet needs to be healthy. Other pet foods contain a ton of empty calories that can cause your pets to feel sluggish and need to eat more food in order to feel full. By going organic, your pet will need to eat less food and will still get all the nutrients and calories they need. Plus, they’ll feel more energetic because their bodies are fueled with clean, healthy foods, so they’ll be able to exercise more, helping them stay at a healthy weight. If your pet is still struggling to maintain a healthy weight after switching foods, consult your veterinarian to make sure there’s not a more serious problem.

Reduced Allergies

Pet food that’s organic and all-natural don’t contain any chemical additives, toxic pesticides, or artificial flavors and coloring like other pet foods do. All these unnatural components can cause allergies for your pets and make their lives uncomfortable. Organic and natural pet food can even help reduce skin ailments in pets. Skin rashes and ailments are often the result of food allergies, and if your pet has ever suffered from one, you know how difficult they can be to control. Instead of spending a ton of money on creams, shampoos, and medication, simply switch to organic pet food and watch your pet’s skin clear up. If their condition still doesn’t improve, consult your veterinarian to see if there are any additional remedies you should try.

Longer Life

This is the most important benefit of switching to organic, all-natural pet food. Our pets are a part of our family, and we want them to stick around for as long as possible. Pets who have a consistent diet of organic, natural pet food tend to live longer and enjoy a better quality of life. The healthy ingredients in organic, natural food help keep your pet’s immune system in tip-top shape, their weight at a healthy level, and gives them the energy to get the right amount of exercise every day.

If you’ve ever tried to clean your home’s carpets yourself, you know just how difficult it can be. It happens all the time – a homeowner rents a carpet cleaning device only to get it home and find out that it doesn’t work properly, is extremely difficult to use, or leaves your carpets sopping wet and covered in a soapy residue after cleaning. When it comes to carpet cleaning, the benefits of calling in a professional are endless.

Longevity

Over time, your carpets will inevitably collect a ton of dirt, dust, and other debris in their fibers. If your carpets are not properly cleaned on a regular basis, your carpets will collect so much debris that their fibers will actually start to split open and deteriorate until you’re left will permanently dingy, frayed carpets. Professional carpet cleaning services can get rid of the debris caught in your carpet’s fibers, which will extend the life of your carpets for years to come.

Home Health

Many people don’t realize that carpets and other soft surfaces like area rugs and upholstery all work together to act as a kind of air filtration system for your home, which is why they trap so much dirt, dust, and other debris in the first place. But, just like your home ventilation system needs its filter changed regularly, your carpets need to be cleaned regularly in order for them to continue filtering contaminants out of the air. TNT Chem-Dry’s carpet cleaning service uses a specialized process that removes an average of 98% of common household allergens from carpets and upholstery and 89% of airborne bacteria from your home when a sanitizer is added. Getting your carpets professionally cleaned can leave you with an overall healthier home for you and your family.

Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew growth in your home can be extremely harmful to your health. Mold releases spores into the air that can be toxic when inhaled, and it will also fill your home with an unpleasant, musty odor. Mold and mildew can grow and spread underneath your carpets due to water tracked in during snow or rainfall or during times of high humidity. Getting your carpets professionally cleaned on a regular basis is one of the best ways to prevent mold and mildew growth in your carpets. If you’re looking for carpet cleaning in Franklin, TN, TNT Chem-Dry uses a proprietary low-water cleaning method that prevents mold and mildew growth and dries in a fraction of the time of steam cleaning.

There are countless benefits to getting your carpets cleaned by a professional. You’ll be left with a home that looks beautiful and is healthier for you and your family. For carpet cleaning in Franklin, TN, you can trust that TNT Chem-Dry will give you amazing results every time.

Air conditioning systems don’t last forever. If your system runs constantly throughout the spring and summer, the constant wear and tear will add up. Maintenance, too, is key. Scheduled, comprehensive maintenance can extend the life of your system; without it, your system may fail prematurely.

Generally speaking, most of us can expect our air conditioning systems to last about 15 years (and we should budget accordingly). But how will you know when it’s the right time to replace that old system with a new one? Answer these questions, and you’ll have a much better idea.

How old is your air conditioner?

This is the most important question. Air conditioning systems can stop being efficient before they stop working entirely. Any system that’s more than ten years old will be substantially less efficient and costlier to run than a new system. While you may want to put of the cost of replacing your system, you’ll be spending more on energy in the meantime – somewhere in the neighborhood of 20% more.

What’s your air conditioner’s SEER value – and what should it be?

The SEER (or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) value indicates the efficiency of your system; the higher the value, the more efficient. This value makes it easier to compare your system to a new one, and to project operating costs. Keep in mind that the most efficiency isn’t necessarily the best option. With added efficiency comes added cost. Consider meeting with an expert heating and air conditioning technician to learn what SEER value would best meet the needs of your budget and your home.

Is that energy bill getting bigger?

As mentioned above, systems become less efficient over time. The SEER value of your air conditioner may no longer be as high as it was when your unit was new. How can you tell if your system is losing efficiency? Take a look at your energy bills. Are you paying a lot more than you did last summer or the one before? If you are, you’re seeing a strong indicator that your air conditioner is having to work harder and harder to keep you cool. And that’s costing you money.

Are you paying too much for repairs?

With age and constant use, air conditioning systems and components wear out and require repair or replacement. As a system nears the end of its lifespan, you’ll get less use out of each repair. If you need to repair or replace an expensive component (such as an evaporator or compressor), you should weigh this cost against the cost of a new system. You may find that replacing your air conditioner a year early is smarter than paying for a short-term fix.

No one wants to pay for a new air conditioner earlier than necessary. But if your current system is inefficient or expensive to run and maintain, you may discover that now is the right time to invest in a new air conditioning system. Consider getting an inspection and advice from a local air conditioning expert before you make any decisions.

The winter season is coming to a close, but the flu is still going around at this point in the year. Many families take steps to safeguard themselves against germs and viruses that are more rampant this time of year by getting a flu shot. If you end up getting sick, you should get a diagnosis from a doctor to make sure it’s the flu. However, many times you could be under the weather due to seasonal allergies.

Colder weather doesn’t always mean there are fewer allergens in the air, and cold and flu season can make seasonal allergies harder to identify so you can take steps to safeguard yourself against them.

Identifying The Source

In America, around 35 million people are allergic to pollen. Winter allergies, colds, and the flu all share similar symptoms – a stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, and coughing. This makes it more difficult to identify what might be affecting you.

One way to tell the difference is by looking at the amount of time that you’re feeling under the weather. Cold and flu symptoms typically only last a few days to a week. Allergies can last much longer, or even year round if you’re exposed to allergens in your home. Another way to tell the difference is whether medicine effectively treats your ailments. If cold medicine isn’t helping, you might be feeling bad due to allergies.

Safeguarding Against Common Allergens

Pollen, ragweed, and mold are common outdoor allergens that affect millions of people in the fall and winter months. If you suspect you’re allergic to these, you can get a test from a doctor and be prescribed anti-allergens. You can also avoid handling outdoor plants, and making sure you bundle up with gloves if you’re doing any winter gardening.

Unfortunately, it gets a little trickier with indoor allergens. Indoor air can sometimes be much more polluted than the air outdoors.This is because outdoor allergens get inside out homes on our clothes, shoes, pets, you name it. When you combine these with common household allergens like pet dander and dust mites, you end up with the perfect storm of airtborne allergens inside your home.

Some easy steps you can take to reduce the amount of allergens inside your home is to keep your outdoor clothes like shoes and coats in a secluded part of your home like a mud room. You’ll also want to wash your hands regularly. Bathing your pets more often in the times of year that you’re prone to allergies will help, and regularly vacuuming your carpets and furniture will help as well. Keeping your windows and doors closed tight in the wintertime will also reduce the amount of outdoor allergens entering your home.

If you want to really make sure your home is clean, you should have your carpets cleaned by a professional carpet cleaning company. When the season begins, reach out to a carpet cleaner in your area. You can find the best ones by conducting a search on Google – just enter your nearest city and the service you’re looking for, then look through each company’s reviews and websites to see what they have to offer. For instance, if you lived in High Point, North Carolina, you’d enter High Point carpet cleaning to view local results in your area.

Remain diligent about safeguarding yourself from common allergens, and happy carpet cleaner hunting!

Eating healthy and taking care of your body is important throughout your entire life, however, as we age, we really have to ensure that the food we are putting in is providing not only the optimal levels of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, but isn’t causing any unnecessary health risks or potential issues down the line.

After speaking with the team at Seniors Helping Seniors of North Phoenix, an in-home senior care agency that specializes on elder care assistance – we came up with some great tips for increasing your health through your diet!

With the growth and boom of the ongoing organic food and healthy dieting trends, it is easier than ever (and cheaper) to find nutritious, organic food to supply your body with.

One of the more important things that can be a direct result of changing up your diet and eating healthier can be the massive reduction in potential trips to the doctor.

Not only will you be spending less time and money at the doctor, but it can also help seniors with staying independent and healthy as they age. As you grow older, our various needs that our bodies require changes, and you’ll need less overall food and more of a variety of certain nutrients and vitamins.

Deciding to eat healthy and taking the proper steps to provide your body with full nutrition can also help your health drastically – especially if you suffer from any health-related illnesses such as diabetes or high-blood pressure.

It can be extremely helpful to take the time to set up an appointment or two with a certified nutritionist, so you know exactly what your specific requirements will be.

In general, here are our best tips for dieting and researching some healthier food options:

Keep in mind your view of what is regarded as a healthy plate. Rather than referring to the outdated food pyramid, look at more recent models that showcase these statistics such as MyPlate. Instead of having percentages or portions for each type of food group, it shows you exactly what your plate should look like with your food portions.

Ensure you look for important nutrients and know what your body needs. There are some cases where you may need additional supplements to help improve your body’s absorption of specific vitamins/minerals, however, a healthy diet and overall lifestyle should generally include: Lean protein, fruits & veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Some other nutrients to keep in mind are fiber, sodium (which you should minimize), and vitamin D.

Skip pre-packaged foods and prepare meals at home from scratch. Many foods that come packaged have a large variety of chemicals and preservatives in them that can be extremely high in sodium and also may contain products that aren’t good for your body.

Stay hydrated throughout the day. One of the biggest reasons many individuals overeat is because they mistake thirst for hunger. Often, you do not notice that are you dehydrated until it is too late, and you are already feeling the effects. It’s absolutely vital to drink as much water as possible throughout the day, with some recommendations reaching up to 1 gallon of water or more!

Window tinting is popular way to reduce heat gain in the summertime, reflecting away infrared light that would normally pass through untreated glass windows and warm a home’s interior. This reduces the burden on air conditioners, and saves money on energy. Less well-known is the role that window tinting can play in winter time; tints can provide an extra degree of insulation between a winter home’s warm interior and the cold air outside, reducing the work your heater has to do.

The key is to apply window tints with all seasons in mind, and not sacrifice summer coolness for winter warmth (or vice-versa). With thoughtful application, tinting can provide year-round energy-savings and comfort. Let’s take a closer look.

The key to creating the best-possible balance between summer and winter effectiveness is to vary the tint application to reflect the light the window receives. If the window receives a lot of light – more likely if it faces south – then reflecting away summer heat is key. If the window receives less light – likely if north-facing or shaded – it’s ability to reflect away light is less critical; it’s a good candidate for optimizing for winter.

So how can you optimize tint for summer or winter? In summertime, you’re most concerned about reflecting away heat. As mentioned above, summer-optimized tints should be applied to reject infrared light. In winter, infrared light is much more welcome as a source of needed heat. In both summer and winter, you’ll want tints that have low-emissivity, or low-e; materials that are low-e conduct heat poorly, making it more difficult to heat to pass in either direction.

Just about any home can benefit from the application of window tints. Older, single pane windows do not help to manage light rays and are not effective at insulation. While double pane windows are much more effective, they can also use more insulating power. As a general rule, window tints should be able to yield the control and energy efficient of an additional pane of glass; tinted single pane windows can do the work of standard double pane, for example.

If you’ve recently priced replacing the windows on your home, you know that new windows are a considerable investment. For many, the cost of window replacement is prohibitive. The cost to apply window tints is much less; generally speaking, you can have your windows tinted for just 5% to 10% of the cost of a window replacement. If you’re more interested in saving money than spending it, window tinting might be a great option for you.

While it’s possible to install window tinting on your own, your best bet is to arrange for a consultation with a residential window tinting professional. A professional will be able to correctly evaluate your home, your windows, and your light; this will ensure that you select tints that work to maintain the right temperature all year long. Professional installations also tend to be backed by warranties – both from the manufacturer and installer; while a window film should never bubble, peel, crack, or discolor, a professional tint installer will make things right if it happens.

Cleaning your carpets regularly is necessary to prevent the accumulation of dirt, air pollutants and allergens. However, some of the products used by carpet cleaning service providers contain chemical compounds that could cause mild to serious health problems. For this reason, you should always opt for chemical-free carpet cleaning. Read on for more information on this topic!

How Carpet Cleaning Chemicals Affect Indoor Air Quality

When cleaned with products that contain potentially harmful chemicals, carpet fibers can trap and retain these toxic chemicals. According to the New York State Department of Health, carpets can slowly release these chemicals into the atmosphere over time. Inhaling the released chemicals could potentially cause short-term health problems such as dizziness, drowsiness, respiratory irritation and headaches. Moreover, prolonged exposure to these chemicals could substantially increase the risk of developing medical issues related to the liver, kidney, and the nervous system. For example, the International Agency for Research on Cancer says that trisodium nitrilotriacetate is a potential human carcinogen.

Non-Chemical Carpet Cleaning

To ensure that you do not expose yourself and others to the aforementioned health risks, you should only hire companies that offer chemical-free carpet cleaning services. In particular, carbonated hot water extraction is an eco-friendly carpet cleaning method. This cleaning technique uses carbonated solutions to extract dirt and allergens such as dust particles from carpet fibers. Carbonated carpet cleaning relies on millions of bubbles to dissolve and lift dirt particles trapped in carpet fibers to the surface for extraction. This method is not only green, but also safe for children because it doesn’t use potentially toxic cleaning products.

The Benefits of non-Chemical Carpet Cleaning

Better indoor quality

Chemical-free carpet cleaning methods guarantee healthy indoor air because carpets cleaned using such methods do not retain and release potentially harmful toxins to the atmosphere.

Low risk of lawsuits

By hiring professionals who use chemical-free carpet cleaning methods, you would essentially reduce the risk of getting embroiled in a law suit. This could happen if a carpet cleaner using conventional cleaning products sustains chemical burns and engages you in a lawsuit. Remember, some conventional fabric cleaners contain caustic compounds that could cause severe skin burns. Furthermore, some emit poisonous fumes that could cause lung injuries. For instance, cleaning products that contain bleach form chlorine gas when mixed with acid-based cleaning agents.

Extend the life of your carpet

Besides harming humans, the chemicals found in most conventional carpet cleaners degrade carpet fibers. It is worth noting that, according to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), carpet cleaners are supposed to adhere to certain standards and guidelines when at work. These guidelines govern the entire carpet cleaning process including pre-treatment, dry matter removal, water and cleaning agent use, drying and grooming. In essence, the guidelines aim to ensure cleaners do not destroy carpet fibers.

Avoid bad odors

Chemical-based cleaning techniques can cause carpets to develop bad odors depending on factors such as the type of cleaning agent used. Using a carpet deodorizer to fight carpet odors is not a viable solution since the deodorizer would only mask the bad odor for short periods.

No sticky residue

A common problem associated with chemical-based carpet cleaning sticky residue, which causes carpets to pick up dirt even faster. Additionally, sticky residue causes carpet fibers to stick together, making vacuuming difficult. Fortunately you can avoid this mess by using chemical-free carpet cleaning services.

Conclusion

If you have to hire a carpet cleaning company, go for on that uses chemical-free cleaning techniques. Benefits include better indoor air quality, no sticky residue, longer carpet lifetime, low risk of being sued by injured cleaners, and low risk of your carpet developing bad odors.

Growing Lemon Trees in Home Orchards: Harvest Lemons Fresh From the Garden

The lemon tree (Citrus limon) is a simple tree to care for once its basic requirements are met. Because lemon trees are evergreen, their year-round color and handsome structure enhance traditional foundation landscaping around the home. Their sweet blooms and deep green, glossy leaves make them a welcome addition to the home garden. Lemons can be used for a large variety of things, from creating lemonade, to squeezing out essential oils for use in a home cleaning product.

Lemon trees come primarily in two sizes; standard and dwarf. While the typical standard lemon tree can grow from 12-30 feet at maturity, the dwarf types are a short 4-10 feet tall. Smaller varieties can even allow the home gardener to plant small orchards. They also make make finding the right place to plant them an easy task. Little lemon trees also make excellent container plants.

Lemon Tree’s Growing Habits

Botanical Name: Citrus limon

Origination: Asia

Family: Rutaceae

Zones: 8,9,12-24; H1; H2 and indoors.

Habit: Evergreen tree or shrub

Height: Dwarf specimens 4 – 10 feet; standard specimens 20 – 30 feet

Blooming Time: Spring to summer

Planting Specifics: Full sun with well-draining soil. Lemon trees like regular water but once established, may be watered every other week.

Propagation: Semi-ripe cuttings in fall; grafts

How to Grow Lemon Trees

Before a gardener purchases a lemon tree for the garden, the space where it’s going to be planted should be assessed. In this way, the gardener is able to research several lemon tree varieties that’ll thrive in that specific garden area. Both space and sun availability should be considered. Lemon trees need full sun which is considered to be 8 hours. Also, some lemon trees have extremely large and sharp thorns so placing them near a walkway could be disastrous.

In extremely hot zones, they’ll tolerate some afternoon shade. Lemon trees like regular watering, but once they’re established for a couple of seasons, they can be watered once every other week during the warm months. They don’t like soggy soil or wet feet, therefore planting them in fast-draining, amended soil is best.

Frequent over-head watering as well as rain, leave the lemon tree’s leaves susceptible to disease and should be avoided. The perfect climate for this citrus is cool weather such as along the coast and areas with little rainfall.

Lemon trees are hardy to about 20 degrees and not much lower. In fact, when temperatures fall to about 26 degrees, frost protection becomes necessary especially in young trees. At the opposite end of the spectrum, to protect the bark from sunburn, lemon trees may be painted with a diluted latex paint.

Because most citrus trees are self-pollinating, they don’t need insect pollinators to bear fruit. Lemons are harvested throughout the year. Ripe lemons needn’t be harvested immediately; they can be left on the branch for 3 months. However, the fruit tastes best if picked right after the skin turns a bright yellow.

Lemon Tree Tips

Adding mulch to the base of lemon trees is an excellent practice as it keeps the soil and roots cool. The key is to keep the mulch away from the tree trunk so as not to encourage pests or disease. Lemons need very little pruning with the exception of weak or spindly branches as the heavy fruit may cause them to snap. Gardeners may also want to prune lemon trees for shape by taking off the cross branches and twigs which will prevent tangled limbs.

Applying a special citrus fertilizer is recommended twice year. These are high in nitrogen plus magnesium, iron, zinc, and manganese. Lemon trees in the home garden suffer little in the way of pests, but sometimes aphids, ants, spider mites, or mealybugs are found on them. Spraying them off the tree with a strong stream of water several days in a row usually takes care of the problem.

Lemon trees are versatile and shouldn’t be over-looked as potted plants both outdoors as well as indoors. They’re also quite at home in a cool-greenhouse with bright light. Currently, the lemon tree is making a comeback and taking its rightful place as a fresh fruit producer in the home garden.

It’s pretty widely known that regular exercise and being outdoors is one of the vital keys to maintaining a healthy, happy lifestyle. Unfortunately, as our bodies age, it can become harder and harder to find time or activities that you can participate in outdoors. Luckily, one of best options that’s both easy on the body and the mind, is hiking! Regardless if you want to pursue a very easy, flat-leveled trail that is nearby to your home, or drive a couple hours to find a more exotic location, the options are endless. There are countless benefits to hiking and immersing yourself in nature.

Many seniors enjoy walking with their friends for their daily exercise, so why not take it to a more scenic location? Walking in general has great positives for the majority of seniors today, on top of being free! It helps contribute to the longevity of a senior’s mobility and and overall well-being. A recent study by the American Geriatric Society concluded that elderly individuals who walked for at least 4 hours a week, which equates to about 30 minutes a day, significantly reduced their chance of a negative health event or hospitalization. What many don’t realize is that hiking on the soft ground outdoors is often much, much less stressful on the joints in your body, which is significant for seniors looking to stay away from the unnecessary pounding of asphalt, concrete, and sidewalks.

Positives of Hiking & Being Outdoors

Improvement of overall blood circulation throughout the body – this is important for maintaining an overall healthier physique, and significantly helps blood flow throughout your lower extremities like your legs and feet.

Drastic improvements in overall cardiovascular health – as is the case with any form of exercise, hiking can greatly improve your heart’s health and contribute to a longer, healthier, happier life.

Improvement in the pain associated with joint injuries, arthritis, and other pains such as knees and ankles – walking helps build the bone and muscle around your body, contributing to less pain and stronger joints.

Overall improvements in mental health and mental well-being – this is a huge positive for all aspects of exercise, but especially hiking, since you are not only exercising and releasing endorphins throughout your body, but you are also outside, in the sunshine, in a beautiful location, which all help to add to the experience of hiking outdoors, leading to lower feelings of depression, and an increased feeling of togetherness with your friends and family.

It has also been shown that individuals who embark on at least one or two hikes a week have a significantly higher rate of high scores on various memory and reaction time tests – this is a result of a large variety of positive benefits of hiking.

Hiking is not only a great experience alone, but it’s even more enjoyable when you bring family or friends. Hiking and being outdoors is one of the best ways to grow and flourish as both an individual and a family. It’s excellent for joining the many generations of family members, both young and old. Being with family can be a great motivator for seniors to get out and experience some positive exercise. There are many different senior care companies that will also help provide an enjoyable experience for your loved one. Seniors Helping Seniors of Columbus take your senior family member on daily activities with other seniors, helping to foster an atmosphere of companionship and growth.

It’s absolutely vital that you take the time to pick a good hiking trail for your family member, based on their individual needs. If you have a family member that isn’t able to fully handle a trail with ups and downs and many different twists and turns, take that into consideration and start off with a small, flat, fairly moderate trail. As you continue to go on hikes, you can slowly begin to ramp up the trail’s difficulty until it starts to become a great exercise and challenge for all involved.

Of course, when going on any outdoors trip, it’s important to pack the vitals such as a supply of water to stay hydrated, a good pair of hiking shoes to avoid any unnecessary pain, sunscreen for covering up any exposed skin, and a simple emergency kit for taking care of any potential first-aid hazards while you’re out on the trail. It’s also important to let others know that you’ll be going hiking, especially if they will be expecting you later or are the primary caregiver of the senior.